According to Daily Post, The Court of Appeal in Nigeria is taking action to ensure that elected governors can be sworn in even if their deputies are disqualified.
On Tuesday, the Appeal Court proposed an amendment to the Electoral Act that would allow a governor whose deputy has been disqualified by a court to take office and later select a new running mate.
This move comes after a notable case involving David Lyon, the governor-elect of Bayelsa State.
On February 13, 2020, just one day before his inauguration, the Supreme Court removed him from office due to issues related to his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo.
The deputy had provided false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which led to the annulment of Lyon’s election. Lyon had originally won the governorship election in November 2019.
During a recent three-day retreat in Abuja, focused on amending the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, the Court of Appeal highlighted the need to fix these kinds of discrepancies in the election process.
The proposed changes, introduced to the National Assembly panel by Justices Peter Olabisi Ige and Abba B. Mohammed, were supported by leaders of registered political parties in Nigeria.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem, stressed the importance of ensuring that such situations do not prevent elected officials from assuming their roles.
The suggested amendment to Section 187 (1) (A) aims to clarify the circumstances under which a deputy governor or deputy-governorship candidate can be removed due to qualification issues, allowing for a more straightforward process for governors to take office without unnecessary delays….Vïew–Môrē